Welcome to Apex Magazine issue 150!
We decided to celebrate 150 issues with the previously unpublished/unpaid author issue that we funded through our last Kickstarter. For the purposes of this issue, we defined unpublished/unpaid as never having been paid for a short story publication at the time of our open submissions period.
As an editor, I’ve had the opportunity to work with a lot of new writers—both those who have never had any previous publication and those who have never had a professional publication. There is something so exciting about working with these authors and then watching them go on to publish in other venues after appearing in Apex. Getting that first “yes” is a huge step forward in an author’s writing journey.
We open this issue with a dark fantasy titled “My Song at the Conclave of Sorrows” by Daniel A. Oluremi. This story weaves a world fraught with complex relationships, an impending war, and the responsibilities of a ruler to her people over those to her own son. Oluremi masterfully creates an epic landscape in just over 7,000 words. I have no doubt we will be seeing much more of his work in the near future.
“A Rare and Exceptional Delicacy,” by G.M. Mitchell, is an absolutely stunning body horror. The speculative element in this piece is lighter than most Apex stories, but the way Mitchell builds yearning and anticipation throughout this story is excellent. I couldn’t stop thinking about it. Mitchell takes a subject that is taboo—cannibalism—and twists it into something that is almost reverent and beautiful. Wonderfully done! I absolutely love this story and hope you will too!
The third and fourth stories in this issue are both science fiction. “Orion and His Moon,” by J.S. Oriel, follows a sentient ship called Orion on a journey to save a colony planet. He isn’t sure what, if anything, has happened to the people on 22 Calidarium-Δ, but the colony’s sudden silence is concerning. This story is an exploration of self and what one will do to save others. While at some points sad, it is ultimately heartwarming.
In E.M. Kerkman’s “Black Gold” we enter a world that has been ravaged. Humans are gone, but sentient robots still roam, following the last orders they were given—mine for gold. This story is a small slice of life for one such robot. Oil is running out, gold is getting harder to find, and tensions are high, but despite this, our main character finds a reason to keep going.
Our flash fiction this issue includes two previously unpublished authors and one author very early in their career. "What the Crab Apple Tree Near Miranda Spaceport Saw," by Elijah J. Mears, is an achingly beautiful story about connection, loss, and what we carry with us when we part. "Denizens of My Face," by Emil Morel, takes bug body horror to a new level, and plays with structure to deliver a surprising and powerful piece. "Changeling," by Frey Lylark, raw and emotional, literally and figuratively digs into the perspective of a parent with a child changing in ways they don't understand.
In addition to our regular flash pieces selected by Rebecca E. Treasure, we also have two flash pieces selected by Maurice Broaddus from the 2024 Mo*Con flash contest: “Moebius Syndrome” by Storm Humbert and “As Ephemeral as Bubbles” by Akis Linardos. If you’ve never had the pleasure of attending a Mo*Con—a small convention run by Maurice Broaddus in Indianapolis during the first weekend of May each year—I highly recommend it. It’s a relaxed weekend full of deep conversations, fantastic food, and new friendships. I had the honor of meeting both Storm and Akis at this year’s convention, and they both told me that Apex was their first pro sale! It seemed fitting to include their winning flash pieces in this issue.
Our nonfiction essays are by Lyndsie Manusos, Victoria J. Gilchrist, and Rebecca E. Treasure. Apex was Manusos’s first pro sale with “The Bells” in issue 93, and I asked her to write an essay about that experience and her writing career since. What she came up with is a beautiful exploration of the importance of having a creative outlet and how that changes as you do. Our second essay is a conversation between Apex intern Victoria J. Gilchrist and managing editor Rebecca E. Treasure. The two discuss Victoria’s experience as an intern and what that process looks like. This essay is Victoria’s first published piece.
Marissa van Uden interviewed Daniel A. Oluremi and J.S. Oriel for our author interviews. AC Wise is back with another Words for Thought.
I found this issue’s art in a different way. If you didn’t know, our artist interviewer, Bradley Powers, is my daughter. She recently graduated from college with a fine arts degree, and her senior show was this past May. There was a lot of stunning artwork on display at the show, but one piece truly jumped out at me. It was an Apex piece! The use of color, the surreal feel of it. I had to ask Bradley who the artist was and if she would introduce us. That is how I met Makayla Bounds. As the art show wound down, I asked Makayla if she would be interested in being a cover artist for Apex Magazine. Lucky for me, she said yes. While I didn’t go to the senior show specifically looking for cover art, I am thrilled that we have artwork from a new artist just beginning her career for this issue’s cover.
This issue was a joy to put together. I hope that you enjoy it and that we see all of these new authors in more publications very soon!
Yours in reading,
Lesley Conner
Editor-in-Chief
Apex Magazine
